Wealden

Wealden's population increased by about 8,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Wealden increased by 6.4%, from about 140,000 to 149,000.

The addition of just under 8,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wealden was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wealden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wealden increased by three years, from 43 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 4,000.

About 14.0% of people in Wealden are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Wealden saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) households in Wealden had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 27.8% to 27.0%.

Across the region, only Lewes saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 7.8% to 9.2%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wealden

In 2011, 97.5% of Wealden residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.3% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.2% of people in Wealden said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.7% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.2%.

the population from one of the White ethnic groups in Wealden remained close to 97.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Wealden

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Wealden was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.6 points.

In 2011, 28.6% of respondents in Wealden gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Wealden, 69.5% said they were Christian, compared with 83.4% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.4% to 7.9%.

In Wealden, 7.9% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Wealden increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Wealden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wealden

The percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.7% to 8.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.8% to 88.8%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Wealden, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Wealden, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.6% in 2001 to 11.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Wealden remained close to 7.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 82.7% to 78.8%.

Private renting in Wealden increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wealden, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Wealden working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16.7% to 12.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Wealden decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wealden, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wealden residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.6% in 2001. The percentage of Wealden residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.2% to 13.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wealden decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wealden, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Wealden that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.3%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 59.5% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Wealden increased from 21.4% to 24.9%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Wealden, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.5% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38.1%) households had a married couple, compared with 41.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Wealden, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 8.4%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Wealden residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 49.3%, while the percentage of Wealden residents that were self-employed increased from 14.3% to 15.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Wealden residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Wealden remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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